ROBERT BARTLETT “BART” ROACH, JR.
was born on Nov. 15, 1935 in Little Rock, Ark. He was the son of Robert Bartlett Roach, Sr. and Barbara Alexander Roach. After attending public schools in Little Rock (with several intervening years in Corpus Christie, Texas, during World War II), he graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H., at the age of 16. He graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., four years later in 1956. He was the President of Delta Kappa Epsilon during his senior year. He spent two years as an active duty officer in the United States Navy, stationed in New Orleans, La., from 1956 to 1958. After his time in the Navy, he worked at Roach Paper Company in Little Rock, serving as Chairman and President until 1980. After the sale of Roach Paper Company, he worked for many years in the finance, insurance and fundraising industries.
Throughout his life, Bart was very involved in civic boards and community organizations. He was Trustee of the George W. Donaghey Foundation for over forty years, serving as President of the Foundation for several years. He was a member of the Little Rock Boys Club Board of Directors from 1966 until 1998, serving as President of the Board in 1985 and 1986. He was a member of the Commercial National Bank Board of Directors from 1964 until 1983 and a member of the Board of Directors of Arkansas Children’s Hospital for 26 years. He is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Easter Seals Agency, Metropolitan YMCA, Little Rock Port Authority and the United Way of Pulaski County. He also served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Country Club of Little Rock.
Known for his sense of humor and his bellowing and infectious laugh, Bart’s personality was defined by optimism, gratitude, kindness and joy. He saw the best in those around him and never missed an opportunity to tell those close to him how much he loved them. He could turn a quirky joke into a dramatically-rendered, twenty-minute event. His pre-meal prayers at family gatherings were masterpieces, as were the epic streams of rhyming couplets that comprised his wedding toasts and birthday greetings.
Sports were also an important part of Bart’s life. He was an avid tennis player, playing at Exeter and on the varsity team at Vanderbilt during his senior year. He also played in a weekly game with friends up to and beyond his 80th birthday. Bart’s dropshot was a thing of ruthless beauty. A lifelong Razorbacks fan, he tried to live up to his rule of “not allowing his Saturday to be ruined by 18 to 22-year-olds” with mixed results.
Bart passed away peacefully on Oct. 20, 2022, surrounded by loved ones. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Mary Corgan Roach; his brother, John Thurston Roach II (Catherine Brown Roach); and five children: Deborah Roach Kincaid, Robert Bartlett Roach, III, William Sayer Roach, Mary Catherine Roach, and Michael Alexander Roach (Stephanie Oakes Roach). He has five grandsons: John Charleville Kincaid, Jr., Alexander Roach Kincaid, James Bartlett Roach, John Roach Swanhaus, and Nicholas Buenafe Calvin Roach.
Visitation will be at Ruebel Funeral Home in Little Rock on Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 4:30-6 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Christ the King Church in Little Rock on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas or Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com.